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Experts warn that Texans should be prepared for another massive grid failure.
While Texas has made some progress in increasing surplus energy flow to the grid, high demand may overwhelm embattled ERCOT.
Despite warnings, ERCOT remains confident that it can manage the increase in energy demand this summer.

Texans need to be prepared for the grid to fail. Again. A new bombshell report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) shows that while Texas has made some progress in increasing surplus energy flow to the grid for times of heightened demand, power is going to be extremely tight this summer, and Texans should prepare to expect rolling blackouts during the hottest months of the year.

The recently released 2022 Summer Reliability Assessment found that Texas, along with parts of California and the Southwest, are in an “elevated risk category of energy emergencies.” The extra pressure on the grid comes from a combination of abnormally high temperatures and doubt conditions, poor upkeep and maintenance of generators across Texas, persistent supply chain issues, and increasing demand. NERC also sighted cyber threats, wildfires, and a shortage of coal generation inputs as major issues that they will be monitoring as the days grow hotter and sufficient energy supply to the grid becomes more vulnerable.

While Texas still lacks the energy capacity necessary to meet demand at its highest points during extreme weather conditions, NERC acknowledges that Texas has made concerted efforts to mitigate the issue. The Lone Star State has increased its anticipated reserve margins, largely thanks to the increased installation of solar and wind power capacity. Overall, Texas’ renewable energy capacity is 4,100 megawatts higher than last year. This increase in solar and wind capacity does not come without its own challenges, however…

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

3 ‘Powerful’ Things You Can Do NOW To Prepare For A Future Grid Failure

July 27, 2018

3 ‘Powerful’ Things You Can Do NOW To Prepare For A Future Grid Failure

In the event of a grid failure, would you be prepared? Many who prep save extra food and water, but have no idea what actually going “off the grid” would entail. But there are some tips and tricks to preparing so you don’t find yourself or your family at the whims of those currently running the political system.

So what could happen in the event of a nation-wide power grid failure? If you rely on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the situation could be dire. And what if it’s winter time? You will most likely be forced from your home in the dead of winter, with nothing more than the few supplies you were able to carry amongst yourselves. You would then be shuttered and locked into a community center (FEMA camp) with thousands of other families, displaced from their homes as well, relying on what few supplies the government could provide. You would have to wait in long lines to use the portable bathroom and security guards would monitor your every move. It wouldn’t exactly be a utopia – it would be more like a prison.

Living off the gird and staying out of those camps is your other option. Of course, that’s far from ideal as well, considering you will be without the basic modern amenities we’ve all come to rely on, but you’d have your freedom. If you choose to “bug in”and live off the grid in the event of a prolonged power grid failure, here are three”powerful” tips to help you survive and make the most of your supplies or gear.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

How Puerto Rico Could Turn Disaster into a Decentralized Paradise

February 26, 2018

How Puerto Rico Could Turn Disaster into a Decentralized Paradise

Could the massive failure of the Puerto Rican government-run energy grid be a blessing in disguise? It has the potential to set Puerto Rico on a course of self-sufficiency and individual empowerment for decades to come.

Many Puerto Ricans are still without power from the large-scale grid failure after Hurricane Maria last fall. Some are not expected to be reconnected to the grid until April or May.

Community Solutions

One of those communities took matters into its own hands and set the local school up with solar panels. Plans to set up rainwater collection and filtration are also in the works. This would make the school entirely off-grid, and a perfect community shelter in the event of other natural disasters.

The Daily Bell recently published an article called 7 Reasons to Shut Down Public Schools Immediately and Permanently. Praising an off-grid public school seems like a contradiction.

But Puerto Rico announced plans to introduce a school voucher program so that students could take a portion of a school’s funding with them and apply it towards another public or private school. Perhaps a school which is off the grid and teaches kids about solar and rainwater systems will flourish. Competition always helps to improve things.

This doesn’t come close to solving all the current problems with mainstream schooling. But the off the grid school couple with school choice can be seen as a decentralization of government, with the community more in control. And that seems like a step in the right direction.

Individual Solutions

Puerto Rican companies in the solar industry had a hard time convincing consumers of the need for solar energy and storage before Hurricane Maria. But now, everyone understands the value of being off the grid. It means you don’t sit around waiting and hoping for the government to come save you. You are in control of your own energy production and use.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Solar Storm Will Strike Earth Tonight, ‘Weak Power Grid Fluctuations’ Possible

February 16, 2018

Solar Storm Will Strike Earth Tonight, ‘Weak Power Grid Fluctuations’ Possible

emfsolarstorm

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts an aurora could light up the sky above areas in the United State including Michigan and Maine. A solar storm, which occurred Monday, is expected to strike Earth tonight.

On Monday, the sun spit out a slew of charged particles in a moderate solar flare. These particles are now making their way towards Earth. The planet’s magnetic field will block most of the particles, but some will make it into Earth’s atmosphere. The particles collect at the north and south poles and interact with atmospheric gases to create the aurora borealis or the Northern Lights. And some say this show could be quite spectacular.

Solar flares have been known to cause power grid failures, but it looks like we’ll only get the light show this time. Although a grid failure is possible, it is unlikely.

According to Seeker, the forecast calls for a high probability of a G-1 or “minor” storm, which could strengthen to a G-2 or “moderate” storm depending on how the stream of particles hit the Earth. Geomagnetic storms are ranked on a scale, with G at the bottom, R in the middle, and S as the most severe. Forecasts now say the particles will give our planet a glancing blow.

Although this storm has been categorized as “G-1,” which means it is minor, it could still cause some havoc down on Earth. Solar flares and particle ejections are associated with sunspots — dark areas on the sun’s surface — that host intense magnetic activity. As the magnetic fields in a sunspot cross, NASA stated, this can cause a sudden energy explosion, also known as a solar flare. This sends radiation out into space, and that radiation can be hurled toward the Earth.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Earth’s Poles Show Signs Of FLIPPING: Widespread Grid Failures Imminent

February 1, 2018

Earth’s Poles Show Signs Of FLIPPING: Widespread Grid Failures Imminent

power-grid4

Scientists from the University of Colorado in Boulder are sounding the alarm that the Earth’s magnetic poles are showing signs of reversing. Although the pole reversal, in and of itself, isn’t unprecedented, the solar winds that would take out the power grid and make parts of the globe uninhabitable could cause widespread disasters.

The Earth has a fierce molten core that generates a magnetic field capable of defending our planet against devastating solar winds. This magnetic field is vital to life on Earth and has weakened by 15 percent over the last 200 years. This protective field acts as a shield against harmful solar radiation and extends thousands of miles into space and its magnetism affects everything from global communication to power grids.

Historically, Earth’s North and South magnetic poles have flipped every 200,000 or 300,000 years. However, the last flip was about 780,000 years ago, meaning our planet is well overdue. The latest satellite data, from the European Space Agency’s Swarm trio which monitors the Earth’s magnetic field, suggest a pole flip may be imminent. The satellites allow researchers to study changes building at the Earth’s core, where the magnetic field is generated. Their observations suggest molten iron and nickel are draining the energy out of the Earth’s core near where the magnetic field is generated. While scientists aren’t sure why exactly this happens, they describe it as a “restless activity” that suggests the magnetic field is preparing to flip.

The signs of the Earth’s poles reversing are also apparent to Daniel Baker, who says this would devastate the power grid. If a switch happens, we would likely be exposed to solar winds capable of punching holes into the ozone layer.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Storm Leaves 600,000 French Households Without Power

March 6, 2017

Storm Leaves 600,000 French Households Without Power

According to French electricity grid operator Enedis, winter storm Zeus which unleashed hurricane-force winds across much of southern France, has left more than 600,000 French households without power as of 4pm on Monday. The company’s website advises that the power cuts have affected 175,000 customers in Brittany, 190,000 in Auvergne Rhone Alpes, 130,000 in Nouvelle Aquitaine, 80,000 in Pays de Loire, and the company advises that more than 3,500 technicians from Enedis are working in the field to deal with “very major” storm damage.

Follow

Enedis Centre @enedis_centre

Centre : #tempetezeus #endirect les techniciens @enedis sur le terrain pour diagnostiquer le

le réseau et réalimenter les foyers impactés

10:50 AM – 6 Mar 2017

Earlier in the day, The Local reported that weather warnings are in place for large swathes of France as wind speeds hit over 190km/hr on Monday. National weather agency Météo France updated the number of departments on orange alert to 31 on Monday morning, as fierce winds lashed much of the country. The town of Camaret, in Brittany, already saw record winds of 193km/hr during Monday morning, reported Europe 1 radio.

An orange alert is the second highest alert on the agency’s scale, and urges residents to be vigilant.

Winds are expected to reach up to 150km/hr on Brittany’s coastline and 120km/hr inland. Heavy rainfall has been predicted in some areas too. The agency said that residents could expect “significant damage” caused by the wind and disruptions to local traffic.

It warned that there was a possibility of cuts to electricity and telephone lines, and as noted above, this is precisely what has happened. The agency warned residents in affected areas to stay off the rooftops and to secure objects that are liable to be blown away.

Elswhere, the entire island of Corsica was issued an orange alert for flood risks as well as “particularly strong winds”. Residents were told to avoid getting too close to the sea, or indeed anywhere that was already flooded. The warnings are in place until Tuesday at 10am.

Puerto Rico Blackout Enters Second Day – Entire Island Of 3.5 Million People Without Power

September 22, 2016

Puerto Rico Blackout Enters Second Day – Entire Island Of 3.5 Million People Without Power

The 3.5 million people of Puerto Rico are entering their second day with no power after a substation fire knocked out service to the entire island. The power outage has left schools scrambling to cancel classes and public hospitals forced to cancel surgeries.

Perhaps even worse, the outage caused numerous fires across the island as a result of malfunctioning generators, including at the upscale Vanderbilt hotel in the popular tourist area of Condado and at the mayor’s office in the northern coastal town of Catano.

While Puerto Rico’s Governor Padilla and the utility’s CEO, Javier Quintana, have said they expect service to be restored by this morning, many Puerto Ricans are dubious saying that the economic slump has affected the government’s ability to maintain basic infrastructure. According to the Wall Street Journal, hundreds of people took to social media to criticize the Electric Power Authority, noting they already pay bills on average twice that of the U.S. mainland.

The fire apparently started at this sub-station in Central Aguirre, Puerto Rico.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames but the damage has still not been repaired leaving millions without power.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Intelligence Insider: How To Protect Your Assets From Critical Infrastructure Failure: “Power Grid, Banking System, Cyber Financial Warfare”

April 4, 2016

Intelligence Insider: How To Protect Your Assets From Critical Infrastructure Failure: “Power Grid, Banking System, Cyber Financial Warfare”

Intelligence insider Jim Rickards has previously warned of asymmetric attacks using cyber warfare, financial warfare and domestic disasters involving chemical, biological or radiologicial events. The threat is multi-faceted and the consequences of such an attack, whether it takes the the form of state-sponsored cyber financial warfare or a rogue terrorist group detonating a dirty bomb, could act as a destabilizing event that wipes out everything from our power grid to the wealth stored in your digital financial profiles.

Having worked directly with intelligence agencies simulating and war-gaming the potential fall-out that could result, in his latest interview with Crush The Street Rickards explains the distinct Doomsday scenarios that could instantly collapse life as we know it in America today… and how to prepare for them.

These things are actually happening and your digital wealth is vulnerable to a number of calamities… critical infrastructure failures… whether it’s power grid, banking system, cyber financial warfare, etc.

(Watch At Youtube)

Last month cyber thieves figured out a way to steal $100 million from the central bank account of Bangladesh via the U.S. Federal Reserve. They could have gotten away with $900 million more had it not been for a small typo. The point, as Rickards notes, is that there is a realistic possibility of a much larger-scale attack that targets not a central bank, but the direct holdings of every bank account in America.

The only tool you have at your disposal to protect from such an attack, says Rickards, is gold:

You never want to go all in… I am saying that 10% of your wealth… put it into physical gold… put it in a safe place and that will be immune from power grid outages, exchange closures, digital asset seizures and cyber financial warfare.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

UK Blackout Risk – Amber Warning

February 11, 2016

UK Blackout Risk – Amber Warning

In recent months, three companies have announced closure of 4 large coal-fired power stations in the UK representing a total loss of 6.671 GW base load capacity*. Combined with closure of 1 nuclear station and the pending closure of two CCGTs, total capacity loss in 2016 will amount to 8.726 GW. If there was a blackout risk this winter, then things will obviously be much worse next winter.

In effect traditional generators are throwing in the towel confronted with a neo-Marxist system of production quotas, targets, subsidies, levies and regulation that places their superior technology at an impossible disadvantage to inferior wind and solar power, both of which are useless in averting a blackout risk when it is highest during a calm winter evening. UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd, needs to re-discover her Tory credentials and sort this situation out.

[* Note that this is a fluid situation with other announcements made since I wrote these words]

The last time I visited this topic was in October 2015 and at that time I saw little risk of UK blackouts this winter. The lights have thus far stayed on! But in the five months since, a lot has changed. The main variable is on-going closure of legacy base load power stations. But I have also learned a bit more about system operation and how the statistics should be interpreted. Mainly I have learned that power stations located in Northern Ireland should not be counted in UK generating statistics since National Grid does not include Northern Ireland in UK demand figures. And plant availability is never 100% and needs to be de-rated by approximately 15% to represent the real world of fires, boiler leaks and vibrations that are common place in the world of electricity generation and maintenance schedules.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Sounding The Alarm On The Country’s Vulnerability To An EMP

June 3, 2015

Sounding The Alarm On The Country’s Vulnerability To An EMP

Establishment insiders are worried we’re too vulnerable

In the past here at Peak Prosperity, we’ve written extensively on the threat posed by a sustained loss of electrical grid power. More specifically, we’ve warned that the most damaging threat to our grid would come from either a manmade or natural electromagnetic pulse (EMP).

A good friend of mine, Jen Bawden, is currently sitting on a committee of notable political, security and defense experts — which includes past and present members of Congress, ambassadors, CIA directors, and others — who are equally concerned about this same threat and have recently sent a letter to Obama pleading for action to protect the US grid.

Before we get to that letter, here’s a snippet from what we wrote on the matter roughly a year ago:

We talk a lot about Peak Cheap Oil as the Achilles’ heel of the exponential monetary model, but the real threat to the quality of our daily lives, if not our lives themselves, would be a sustained loss of electrical power. Anything over a week without power for any modern nation would be a serious problem. A month would lead to chaos and many deaths.

When the power goes out, everything just stops. For residential users, even a few hours begins to intrude heavily as melting freezers, dying cell phones, and the awkward realization that we don’t remember how to play board games nudge us out of our comfort zone.

However, those are just small inconveniences.

For industrial and other heavy users, the impact of even a relatively short outage can be expensive or even ghastly. Hospitals and people on life-assisting machinery are especially vulnerable. Without power, aluminum smelters face the prospect of the molten ore solidifying in the channels from which it must be laboriously removed before operations can be restarted.

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Images From A Dark Detroit: “Major Cable Failure” Sparks Widespread Power Outage | Zero Hedge

December 2, 2014

Images From A Dark Detroit: “Major Cable Failure” Sparks Widespread Power Outage | Zero Hedge.

Just 15 months after Detroit’s Black Out 2013 debacle, spokespeople for the city and DTE Energy confirmed at around 11:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday that most of Detroit’s municipal grid is offline:

*DETROIT CITES ‘MAJOR CABLE FAILURE’ FOR POWER OUTAGE
*DETROIT: OUTAGE IS AFFECTING ALL CUSTOMERS ON THE PLD GRID

The outage is preventing power from being delivered to police stations, schools, traffic lights and other city-run facilities and services.

According to Detroit Press Office shortly before noon:

“The city’s public lighting grid suffered a major cable failure that has caused the entire grid to lose power at approximately 10:30 this morning. The outage is affecting all customers on the PLD grid. We have isolated the issue and are working to restore power as soon as possible.”

…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…

Bangladesh power restored after blackout – Central & South Asia – Al Jazeera English

November 2, 2014

Bangladesh power restored after blackout – Central & South Asia – Al Jazeera EnglishBangladesh has restored power in most of the country, a day after a transmission line bringing electricity from neighbouring India failed, causing a nationwide blackout, officials have said.

The blackout, which affected more than 150 million people, was the country’s worst since a 2007 cyclone knocked out the national grid for several hours, and again exposed inefficient and dated infrastructure that has held back development in the South Asian nation.

Power was restored in Dhaka, the capital, and in other major cities too, but it was not clear how many people were still without electricity, which had been cut across Bangladesh at around noon on Saturday after a “technical glitch” that led to a cascade of failures throughout the national power grid, with power plants and substations shutting down.

Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka, said that 80 percent of the country’s power has been restored, with 20 percent left to go.

“Calm has returned to the country, but most of the industries and the emergency service hospital clinics were badly hit [by the blackout],” he said.

…click on the link above to read the rest of the article…

NASA: Revisiting Our Vulnerabiity To Solar Flares | Peak Prosperity

October 27, 2014

NASA: Revisiting Our Vulnerabiity To Solar Flares | Peak Prosperity.

Last year, we recorded a fascinating interview with Dr. Lika Guhathakurta, NASA astrophysicist and heliophysics expert, to understand the science behind coronal mass ejections (CMEs — also commonly referred to as ‘solar flares) and the potential havoc a large one could wreak on our technology-dependent society. The largest CME recorded in modern history, the Carrington Event, occurred in 1859 and it’s charged particle wave brought down the then-new telegraph system across the US.

Dr Guhathakurta returns to the podcast this week to discuss a large-scale CME that nearly hit Earth back in July of 2012 (a direct hit missed us by about 1 week), as well as to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the warning system we have in place to alert us to such dangers, and the continuing vulnerability our system have to such an event:

…click on the link above to read the rest of the article and listen to the podcast…

How To Prepare For Emergency Power after a Grid Failure; Short and Long Term

October 22, 2014

How To Prepare For Emergency Power after a Grid Failure; Short and Long Term.

Humans are not nocturnal creatures. A simple flashlight or candle provides a sense of security, intertwined with the ability to see otherwise invisible details. Whether in a long term or short term sense, the power grid fails. This is true regardless of country, location, or nationality. A system built by man is a flawed system, and no matter how small the chance, it will fail at some point.

If you accept that a power failure is a possibility, and already have a few flashlights stored along with some batteries, you are already more prepared than many individuals out there. When it comes to emergency power, there are different types to be considered; those for short term disasters, and those for long term sustainability.

Short Term.

In a temporary loss of power, disposable batteries will suffice. Having a stockpile (and rotating them accordingly,) is a simple precaution to guard against any possible interruptions for a week or less of power. It is important to recognize that some flashlights take different sizes, and to standardize your batteries as much s possible (much like your ammo supply.) There are adapters that can fit around a AA battery to fit into a D-cell slot, but on a temporary basis those won’t be necessary. The basic battery sizes that you should stockpile (with exceptions,) include;

…click on the link above to read the rest of the article…

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